SPIGELIA MAItYLANDICA, Carolina pink, perennial worm-grass, or worm-seed; a perennial herbaceous plant, native of the southern states of the American Union. It is from six inches to two feet high, leaves opposite, sessile, ovate, and acuminate. The root has a short caudex, from which issue numerous fibres ; all which parts are of a yellowish colour when first dug up, but become black on drying. It is collected by the Indians, and sold to the white traders, who pack it in casks, or make it up into bales, weighing from three hundred to three hundred and fifty pounds. The odour of the fresh plant is disagreeable, the taste sweetish, slightly bitter, and nauseous. The leaves are less potent than the root, which part consists of woody fibre 82, a peculiar principle like tannin 10 ; bitter acrid extractive 4; and an acrid resin ; also a fixed and a volatile oil. Both the resin and extractive have emetic properties. Spigelia has slight narcotic powers, and in large doses causes vomiting and purging. In America the fresh plant has decided anthelmintic virtues, but it is only useful against the Ascaris lumbricoidcs, or largo round worm. In Europe lit is little used, having lost much of its power by long keeping. Dr.
Barton recommends it as a cure for the infantile remittent fever, which often terminates in hydrocephalus, or water in the head. In such a case it acts beneficially by removing the worms, the irritation of which, when propagated to the brain, gives rise to the more serious disease. But the expulsion of the worms by any other means, and the exhibition of any tonic and astringent, like the tannin of the Spigelia, will prevent their recurrence. [ANTUELNIINTICS.] Spigelia is given in powder, or as an infusion or decoction. It is usually combined with scums or some other purgative, but it is better to give it alone, and follow its administration by a dose of calomel and jalap.
The Spilic/ht Anthelmia, a native of Brazil, which is a. much more potent plant, is sometimes mistaken and given for the other. It contains an alkaloid called spigelina, which is volatile, somewhat like nicotina, the effects of which it also resembles, causing formidable narcotic symptoms, to which lemon-juice, sugar, or carbonate of potash is said to be an antidote.